Cleaning head with fixing device for cleaning apparatus

ABSTRACT

A cleaning head with fixing device is used in conjunction with a cleaning apparatus and mounted at a lower side thereof, comprising a cleaning element and first and second adhesive plates, which are attached to a top side of the cleaning element and a lower side of the cleaning apparatus; The first and second adhesive plates have a plurality of hooks and a fiber surface, which engage with each other for mounting the cleaning element on the cleaning apparatus.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a cleaning head with a fixing device for a cleaning apparatus, particularly to a cleaning head with a fixing device for a cleaning apparatus having a cleaning element made of water-absorbent material.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In daily life, cleaning apparatuses with handles are important tools for cleaning floors without the need for bending down or kneeling. A cleaning apparatus with handle generally has a handle and a cleaning element, which is a bundle of cotton strings or a wiping cloth. The cleaning element is attached to a lower end of the handle and works by absorbing water along with dirt on an object to be cleaned. After wiping over the object to be cleaned, the cleaning element is manually wrung, which is laborious and unhygienic.

Therefore, cleaning apparatuses have appeared on the market, which use an elongated sponge as cleaning element, so that dirt and dust are easily removed therefrom by simple washing with water.

Besides, a wringing device is provided, which, manually driven by a lever, pushes the cleaning element through a space between two roles, squeezing out water from the cleaning element. However, such a wringing device is hard to operate and mounting and dismounting thereof is cumbersome.

Therefore, an improved cleaning apparatus has been disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,983,509 “Sweeping and Wringing Apparatus”, which has two wringing plates at a lower end of a main rod. The two wringing plates are driven by a lever to turn against each other, compressing a cleaning element and squeezing water out. Thereby wringing is made more convenient than in conventional art. However, the cleaning element needs to be replaced regularly due to wear of material and deformation. Hence providing quick mounting and removing of the cleaning element contributes significantly to convenience of use.

The cleaning apparatus of U.S. Pat. No. 6,983,509 uses a held plate, to which the cleaning element is attached and which carries several snap-fastening projections that engage with openings in a holding plate. For removing the cleaning element, the held plate is pulled away from the holding plate. However, removing the cleaning element requires much manual force and is, due to a large number of snap-fastening projections, time-consuming. Besides, the wringing plates have to be held manually to be prevented from swaying in an uncontrolled way.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main object of the present invention is to provide a cleaning head with a fixing device which allows quick and easy mounting on a cleaning apparatus and dismounting therefrom.

For achieving above objects, the present invention comprises a cleaning element and first and second adhesive plates, which are attached to a top side of the cleaning element and a lower side of the cleaning apparatus. The first and second adhesive plates have a plurality of hooks and a fiber surface, which engage with each other for mounting the cleaning element on the cleaning apparatus.

Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the principles of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the cleaning head with fixing device of the present invention in the first embodiment in conjunction with a cleaning apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cleaning head with fixing device of the present invention in the first embodiment in conjunction with a cleaning apparatus, with the cleaning head being dismounted.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the cleaning head with fixing device of the present invention in the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the cleaning head with fixing device of the present invention in the first embodiment in conjunction with a cleaning apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the cleaning head with fixing device of the present invention in the first embodiment in the mounted state.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the wringing plates with adhesive plate of the present invention in the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the cleaning head with fixing device of the present invention in the second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the cleaning head with fixing device of the present invention in the third embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a side view of the cleaning head with fixing device of the present invention in the fourth embodiment in the mounted state.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the cleaning element with adhesive plate of the present invention in the fifth embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown in FIG. 1, the present invention comprises a cleaning head 10 and a fixing device used in conjunction with a cleaning apparatus 1. The cleaning head 10 has an elongated cleaning element with an elliptic cross-section, made of water-absorbing material for cleaning floors. The cleaning apparatus 1 further comprises a main rod 2 and a fastening device 3. The fastening device 3 is roughly shaped like a triangular prism, having a central part that is mounted at a lower end of the main rod 2 and two side parts, each of which carry a hinge 4. Two connecting pieces 5 are at upper ends thereof respectively connected to the two side parts of the fastening device 3 by the hinges 4 and at lower ends thereof respectively connected with two wringing plates 6. A lever 7 is hingedly connected with the main rod 2 and, at a central position thereof, hingedly connected with a connecting rod assembly 8. The connecting rod assembly 8 passes through the fastening device 3, having a lower end that is hingedly connected with a connecting plate 9, which in turn hingedly connects the two wringing plates 6. As shown in FIG. 4, when the lever 7 is raised manually, the connecting rod assembly 8 is pulled upward, in turn pulling upward inner ends of the wringing plates 6, so that the wringing plates turn against each other in a clasping movement, compressing the cleaning head 10 and wringing out water.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the cleaning head 10 carries on a top side thereof two first adhesive plates 20, and the two wringing plates 6 carry on lower sides thereof two second adhesive plates 30, which engage with the first adhesive plates 20. Each of the first adhesive plates 20 has an outer fiber surface 21 made of nylon fibers or felt, and each of the second adhesive plates 30 has an outer surface carrying a plurality of densely arranged hooks 31. Each of the hooks 31 has a hooked section 32, allowing engaging with the fiber surface 21 of the first adhesive plate 20.

Referring to FIG. 5, when the cleaning head 10 is mounted on the two wringing plates 6, the hooks 31 on the second adhesive plates 30 engage with the fiber surfaces 21 of the first adhesive plates 20, fixing the cleaning head 10 in a mounted state. Since engaging surfaces of the first and second adhesive plates 20, 30 are large, the mounted state is stable against shear forces. For removing the cleaning head 10 from the two wringing plates 6, the first adhesive plates 20 are manually pulled away from the second adhesive plates 30, starting at a corner, so that the hooks 31 disengage from the fiber material 21.

For improved stability of mounting of the cleaning head 10 on the two wringing plates 6, several fixing bands 40 are attached to the cleaning head 10, each laterally extending away from two opposite longitudinal sides thereof. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, each of the fixing bands 40 has two outer ends, which respectively carry an adhesive end plate 41 and an adhesive end plate 42. As shown in FIG. 5, after mounting of the cleaning head 10 on the two wringing plates 6, each of the fixing bands 40 is put around one of the two wringing plates 6, so that the adhesive end plates 41, 42 engage with each other, securing a hotter hold of the cleaning head 10 on the two wringing plates 6.

Referring now to FIG. 6, the present invention in a second embodiment has two wringing plates 6A carrying two second adhesive plates 30A on lower sides thereof, each having a plurality of densely arranged hooked pins 31A. The hooked pins 31A are produced together with the wringing plates 6A in a single process of cast-molding, forming an integrated body.

As further shown in FIG. 6, each of the hooked pins 31A has a hooked section 32A, which engages with the fiber surface 21, so that the adhesive plates 20, 30A are held together.

Referring to FIG. 7, the present invention in a third embodiment has a cleaning head 10B having a top surface with two first adhesive plates 20B carrying a plurality of densely arranged hooks 21B. Two wringing plates 6B carry two second adhesive plates 30B on lower sides thereof, which have fiber surfaces 31B. When the cleaning head 10B is mounted on the two wringing plates 6B, the hooks 21B on the first adhesive plates 20B engage with the fiber surface 31B of the second adhesive plates 30B, fixing the cleaning head 10B in a mounted state.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, the present invention in a fourth embodiment has a cleaning head 10C having a top surface with two first adhesive plates 20C. Two wringing plates 6C carry two second adhesive plates 30C on lower sides thereof. Both the first and second adhesive plates have a plurality of densely arranged hooks 21C, 31C, which have hooked sections 22C, 32C. As shown in FIG. 9, when the cleaning head 10C is mounted on the two wringing plates 6C, the hooked sections 22C, 32C engage with each other, fixing the cleaning head 10C in a mounted state.

The hooks 21C are integrated with a base plate 23C to form a single body. The base plate 23C is glued to the cleaning element at the top side of the cleaning head 10C. Each of the wringing plates 6C forms an integrated body with hooks of the plurality of hooks 31C.

Referring to FIG. 10, the present invention in a fifth embodiment has a cleaning head 10D having a top surface with a first adhesive plate 20D. The first adhesive plate 20D has a base plate 22D of a length that is roughly equal with the length of the cleaning head 10D and carries a single fiber surface 21D rather than two separate fiber surfaces.

While preferred embodiments of the invention have been set forth for the purpose of disclosure, modifications of the disclosed embodiments of the invention as well as other embodiments thereof may occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to cover all embodiments which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention. 

1. A cleaning head with fixing device, used in conjunction with a cleaning apparatus and mounted at a lower side thereof, comprising: a cleaning element, made of water-absorbent material and having a top surface; first adhesive plates, attached to said top side of said cleaning element second adhesive plates, attached to said lower side of said cleaning apparatus; wherein said first and second adhesive plates have a plurality of hooks and a fiber surface, which engage with each other for mounting said cleaning element on said cleaning apparatus.
 2. The cleaning head with fixing device of claim 1, wherein said first adhesive plates have said fiber surface and said second adhesive plates have said plurality of hooks.
 3. The cleaning head with fixing device of claim 2, wherein said second adhesive plates and said plurality of hooks form an integrated body.
 4. The cleaning head with fixing device of claim 3, further comprising fixing bands, which each are attached to said cleaning element on said top side thereof and each have adhesive end plates to be put around part of said cleaning apparatus and connected with each other for enhancing stability after connecting said first and second adhesive plates.
 5. The cleaning head with fixing device of claim 2, further comprising fixing bands, which each are attached to said cleaning element on said top side thereof and each have adhesive end plates to be put around part of said cleaning apparatus and connected with each other for enhancing stability after connecting said first and second adhesive plates.
 6. The cleaning head with fixing device of claim 1, wherein said first adhesive plates have said plurality of hooks and said second adhesive plates have said fiber surface.
 7. The cleaning head with fixing device of claim 6, further comprising fixing bands, which each are attached to said cleaning element on said top side thereof and each have adhesive end plates to be put around part of said cleaning apparatus and connected with each other for enhancing stablilty after connecting said first and second adhesive plates.
 8. The cleaning head with fixing device of claim 1, further comprising fixing bands, which each are attached to said cleaning element on said top side thereof and each have adhesive end plates to be put around part of said cleaning apparatus and connected with each other for enhancing stablilty after connecting said first and second adhesive plates.
 9. A cleaning head with fixing device, used in conjunction with a cleaning apparatus and mounted at a lower side thereof, comprising: a cleaning element, made of water-absorbent material and having a top surface; first adhesive plates, attached to said top side of said cleaning element second adhesive plates, attached to said lower side of said cleaning apparatus; wherein said first and second adhesive plates have a plurality of hooks with hooked sections, which engage with each other for mounting said cleaning element on said cleaning apparatus.
 10. The cleaning head with fixing device of claim 9, wherein said second adhesive plates and hooks of said plurality of hooks connected thereto form an integrated body.
 11. The cleaning head with fixing device of claim 10, further comprising fixing bands, which each are attached to said cleaning element on said top side thereof and each have adhesive end plates to be put around part of said cleaning apparatus and connected with each other for enhancing stablilty after connecting said first and second adhesive plates.
 12. The cleaning head with fixing device of claim 9, further comprising fixing bands, which each are attached to said cleaning element on said top side thereof and each have adhesive end plates to be put around part of said cleaning apparatus and connected with each other for enhancing stability after connecting said first and second adhesive plates. 